Meet CGA University Admissions Counselor: Bob Fan

Who is Bob Fan?

Bob Fan is the Director of University Admissions Counseling at CGA and has over 12 years of professional experience in university admissions counselling with students from around the world. Bob was born in China but grew up in a small Canadian town where the idea of studying abroad wasn't very common. However, with his parents working in the US, Bob was encouraged to explore his options outside Canada. After applying to several universities in the US, he ultimately chose the University of Michigan, where he pursued his passion for Biology.

Read on for Admissions Advice from the expert!

Bob Fan's Journey to Becoming a CGA Counselor

Bob Fan's story is one of perseverance and opportunity. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Bob found himself at a crossroads, unsure of his next steps. A visit to his parents in China led him to his first job in admissions consulting, a career he soon began to love.

For six years, Bob worked for two different companies in China before feeling the pull to return to the US. While studying for his GMAT, a former colleague mentioned that Crimson Education was hiring strategy consultants. This was the opportunity Bob had been waiting for, and he has been with Crimson for nearly seven years now.

Prior to his role at CGA, Bob worked as the Director of Global Strategy Consulting with Crimson Education, managing Crimson's team of Strategy Consultants. Bob has helped students gain admission to their best-fit universities around the world, including elite universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Oxford, and the University of Toronto.

At CGA, Bob aims to help all ambitious students find the best fit path for them, including university admissions pathways, decisions for majors and courses, and future careers. He finds great joy in helping these students achieve their dreams and is proud to be a part of the CGA team.

Bob also advises new CGA students to seize the opportunities available to them, such as meeting other students and joining extracurricular clubs. He also stresses the importance of building relationships with teachers and school staff, as they can be instrumental in the university admissions process. Bob encourages students to reach out to him early on to discuss their goals and how to achieve them.

Admissions Advice from the expert

If you're currently applying to university:

For CGA students who are currently applying to universities, Bob recommends using their time wisely by focusing on developing their writing skills, creating a list of potential schools, figuring out their essays, and identifying who they will ask for references. Even though application deadlines may seem far away, it's better to start early to avoid feeling overwhelmed and rushed later on.

If you're looking to enrol at CGA:

For prospective students considering enrolment at CGA, Bob suggests not getting too caught up in the numbers and the likelihood of being accepted into different programs. Instead, he encourages them to reflect on where they would fit in on a more personal and philosophical level, and why the school would be a perfect fit for them. While it's essential to consider their competitive programs, target, reach, and safety school list, the most important thing is to understand what qualities make them a good fit for the school.

5 Top Tips for Preparing your university applications:

1. Your academic record is the most important factor for university admissions to any country. Make sure you focus on taking the most rigorous and most university-preparatory courses possible. Universities are admitting students based on their proven record of achievement, in addition to their future academic potential!
2. When maximizing academic achievement, it's important to focus on your internal examinations and grades in addition to any external examinations. While CGA students sit AP and Edexcel exams, they also regularly receive progress reports with internal grades which indicate their ongoing performance in CGA courses. Many countries also take these into account, so make sure you are focusing on these grades as well!
3. Independent research - the ability to formulate a hypothesis and explore this in depth using a variety of disciplines and research tools - is quickly becoming an important factor in university admissions around the world. It demonstrates the student's ability to think critically and in an interdisciplinary way, and utilize various tools and methods to explore a field deeply. A structured way to gain research experience is the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) but there are also other ways to conduct research while in high school as well!
4. Extracurricular activities are an important factor for admissions in many countries around the world. While the exact evaluation may differ, admissions officers are looking for evidence of achievement, dedication, and passion. Students should focus on academic extracurricular activities in addition to ones that allow them to demonstrate their passion and achievement in other areas. Strong evidence of leadership, character, and ingenuity is also a big plus.
5. Teacher recommendations are one of the most important factors in admissions and one of the most often overlooked. In order for teachers to write compelling recommendations, they must have a strong bond and deep understanding of the student's strengths and goals. Students should always focus on getting to know their teachers better in an effort to build this understanding.

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Bob Fan is a valued member of the Crimson Global Academy counseling team, bringing his extensive experience and passion for mentoring students to the table. His unique background, having gone through the international student admissions process himself, has given him invaluable insights and perspectives that he is now able to share with CGA students.

Interested in learning how we can help you achieve your academic goals?
Speak to our Admissions Advisors today!